A lot has happened since we last posted this newsletter; we have had a State election; the river Murray and Coorong Action Group have had their AGM, with the state environment minister attending. Included in this issue we have news on

the release of Black Bream fingerlings

Information on Peregrine Falcons

Some of the latest research on restoring habitat for native fish

Invitations to various events

And more on the continuing discussion on Carp Control.

It is also with sadness that we acknowledge the passing of former C. A. P. member Jack Robertson and our condolences go to his family

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Natural Resources SAMDB, GWLAP and Nature Foundation SA would like to thank all those who provided feedback and so much support for the environmental watering project.

All going well, we aim to start the watering this coming Monday 19th February. The pump will run only between 9am and 5pm on weekdays and we expect it will take the week to deliver enough water to inundate the area adjacent Pobby Bonk Point. For those that are also interested in frog monitoring (do you have the FrogSpotter app yet?) we are expecting a great response so listen out for them!

Any issues, questions or concerns please call Kate on 0407793634.

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The Milang Snipe Sanctuary (the Sanctuary) is stormwater-fed fringing wetland of Lake Alexandrina that is special. It’s special because the rare Latham’s Snipe (Gallinago hardwickii) return each year during spring and summer after a long flight from arctic areas in the Northern hemisphere. While they are here, the snipe need to feed and rapidly increase their body fat to be able to make the return journey to their breeding grounds. Birds that leave here in good condition are more likely to be successful breeders and return once again to Australia. As the Sanctuary relies on stormwater to maintain water levels, dry summers result in no foraging habitat for snipe. Snipe numbers have been excellent since their arrival in August 2017, up to 14 individuals in one sitting, however they will need to move to find suitable foraging areas as the wetland has dried.

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Together with Nature Foundation SA (NFSA) and Goolwa to Wellington Local Action Planning (GWLAP), Natural Resources SA Murray-Darling Basin have an exciting opportunity to deliver a small volume of water via pumping to the south basin of the Sanctuary to provide suitable foraging habitat for migratory waders, particularly snipe. This water will inundate low lying shrublands and sedgelands in the south basin of the Sanctuary to an average water level depth of ten centimetres across approximately 40% of the wetland in the very southern area near Pobbybonk Point (see map). The proposal is to trial a small four-inch pump to deliver approximately 4 mega litres over 3 days with 2-3 smaller top-up volumes a few weeks apart. The small pump is portable and would be run only between 9am and 5pm and not on weekends or public holidays. If successful, the trial will provide rich foraging areas for snipe and other birds that prefer the shelter of samphire and low sedges such another threatened species, the Australasian bittern.

Do you have any questions, concerns or would like more information? Drop-in and see Wetlands Management Officer Kate Mason at the MOSHCC (24-25 Daranda Tce, Milang) at the times listed below or phone or email Kate at 0407793634, kate.mason@sa.gov.au